Guatemala 1899 real

The specimen shown is a scarcer variety of a transition year for the one real denomination. In 1899, five distinctly different types were issued, starting with this one, which was 3.25 g, .835 fine. It was followed, in swift sucession, by KM 172 (3.15 g, .750 fine, very rare), KM 173 (3.1g , .600 fine, common), KM 174 (3.15 g, .500 fine, common) and KM 174a (fineness stamped .500/.550 fine). Guatemala was the last country in Latin America to abandon the real, in 1912, a reflection of the extreme conservatism of the peasant society.